Sportsman&#39;s buoyant suit



March ,3, 1931. D. w. CORDER ET AL SPORTSMAN'S BUOYANT SUIT Filed April 15, 1930 Sheets-rSheet 1 I nuenlor Fave WC'araZer 6707479 fl i'mvrezace.

A llomey March 1931- D. w. CORDER ET AL SPORTSMANS BUOYANT sun Filed April 15, 1930 .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenlor 5 ,Iaae W J'drde 67%;? flwrerzae By g A llorncy March 3, 1931 o. w. CORDER ETAL SPORTSIANS BUOYANT SUIT Filed April 15, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inv enlor Jve W Carder A lfomcy patented l fter. 3, 1931 DAVE W. OORDCEE AND CLARKE H.

meters l i entice LAWRENCE, or CODY, WYOMING sroR'rsMAnsBnoYAnr surr Application filed April 15,

l *With the foregoing and otherobjects in' View, the invention consists of a novel construction', combination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described and illustratedin the accompanying drawings,.wherein is disclosed, an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device shown supported on the water.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away and having the cover removed,

Fig. 3 is a vertical detailed section taken substanially on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the foot portiono-f the boot, 3 i

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the propelling fins,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through theleg' of the boot, v i

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of, the fin and anchor hinge therefor,

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view'of the anchor for the hinge. I y

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, 10 indicates generally a buoyant flexible rim formed of rub- .of the tubular ri'm'lO.

1930. Serial no. 444,476.-

ber Which is substantially oval in configuration and tubular in cross section. This end is substantially oval it is pointed at the front and baclrthereof along the major diameter, aswill be clearly understood by re ferring. to the drawings.

' The run end is divided by internal partition walls 11, 12, located across the minor.

diameter of the rim and these partition walls;

divide the rim into two compartments 13, 14 which are inflatable by the valves 15, 16. about the top surface of .thetube are disposed spaced fasteners 17 which may be of any conventional type.

A bottom wall 18 is formed of flexible wa ter-proof'material sufiiciently strong to withstand the. weight of thehuman body. The bottom wall 18 is vulcanized or otherwise j oinedabout its perimeter to the lower Wall Pairs of buckles 19 are secured to the inner periphery of the rim rearwardlyof the major diameter to which are connected the straps 20 on the opposite ends of the hollow inflatable seat 21 that is disposed across the rim.

This hollow-seat 21 is inflatable thru-the valve 22 and is formed of air-proof and waterenroof fabric. Disposed across the major portion or diameter of the rim 10 is the shoal der strap 23 adjustable and detachable intermediate its ends by means of the buckle 24. This strap is adapted to fit over the shoul ders of the person While the body is resting v,

inthesuit. c

The bottom wall 18 of the suit is formed with a pair of openings 25, 26, one to each sideof the major diameter and slightly to the rear of the minor diameter. 7

A pairof rubber boots indicated, generally at 27 28have the upper ends of the legs 29 up forming cleats 33, in the legs of the boots.

In the soles 3 of each boot, are vulcanized aluminum anchor plates 35, one for each boot, and depending from each anchor plate is a sleeve disposed transversely of the sole and below the surface thereof. This anchor plate is preferably formed of aluminum so as to be light and .yet non-corrosive.

lhe sleeve is indicated at 86. To the depending sleeves 36, of each boot, there rock; ably mounted a rectangular plate in 32 formed of aluminum so as to be light and noncorrosive. From the center of the upper c there projects a pair of sleeves 38, 39, which are spaccc. to overlap the ends of the sleeves 3G.

The nns are secured to the "sleeves on the sole of eaclboot fin l-O that provide a hinge for t e line. The fins 87 are substantially wider the soles of the boots, and provide propelling 1 cans for the suit.

Intermeuiate the sleeves 38, 39, on each fin 37, is an upstanding, forwardly outset lug 41 that prevents each fin from rocking forwardly f rther than a vertical position be- .JG cause it bears against the sleeve depending from the soles of the boots when it rotates to the vertical position. However, the lug ll does not prevent the fins from rotating rearwardly on its axis.

A hood 42 is so formed to fit over the shonl ders of the person when the person is seated in the seat. This hood 42 is formed of waterproof flexible cloth and around the bottom periphery thereof is formed with snap fasteners 43 which engage with the snap fasteners 1'? of the upper face of the rim 10.

lhe hood permits the neck of the-person to extend clear thereof.

In the application of the invention, the body of the person rests on the seat '21 with the legs disposed in the boot to make the legs of the boot comfortable on the person, the straps 31, 32 on each boot, will adjust the leg portions to the proper length.

The shoulder strap 23 isthen reached over one shoulder and the hood is attached to the rim 10.

The suit will then support the person in an upright position on the water as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Now to propel the person forwardly,'al1 that is necessary to be done, is to manipulate the legs slightly like in walking. As the legs move rearwardly, the fins are extended to a vertical position as shown in the right leg in Fig. l of the drawings, andthese fins act as paddles to propel the body forwardly.

When'the leg is moved forwardly, the fins will fold against the heel as isclearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, thereby reducing resistance of the water to the movement of the leg forwardly through'the water.

Furthermore, by having the fins foldable, as is shown in the left leg in Fig. 1 of the pending from messes drawings, inevent the feet reach the bottom, the person may walk on the bottom without any material discomfort because the fins will fold against the heels.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail merely for the purpose of exemplification since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

t is to be understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure, or arrangement, it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims, or the requirements of the prior art.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is 1. A device of the class described comprising aninflatable rim, a fleziible bottom wall extending across the rim, a pair of boots dethe bottom wall, propelling P 1 l J nns depending irom the sole of the boots, an inflatable seat forming member detachably connected to the rim and extending across a part of the same, a hood coveringthe body of the user detachably connected with the rim and having an opening therein for receiving the neck of the user.

2. A device of the class described comprising an inflatable rim,'a flexible bottom wall extending across the rim, a pair of boots depending from the bottom wall, propelling fins depending from the soles of the boots, metal members inserted in the soles of the boots to which the fins are hinged, means for limiting the forward movement of the fins to prevent the fins from moving forwarly beyond a position perpendicular to the boots.

In testimony whereof we affix our signa- DAVE VJ. CORDER.

CLARKE H. LAWRENCE.

' tures. 

